ROXANA, Del.- It's batter up in Delaware! The Big League Softball World Series is coming to Sussex County. The tournament had been held in Kalamazoo, Mich., for the past two decades.
The Senior League World Series, for 13- to 16-year-olds, already called Sussex County home. Now, the Big League World Series, for 16- to 18-year-olds, will, too. They'll both be held August 4-10 in Roxana at the Lower Sussex Little League Complex.
"This is a big deal for a little state," said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware. "There are only four world series for softball in the entire world, and two of them are going to be here in Delaware."
The Delaware Economic Development Office says the two tournaments will bring in a combined 1,500 week-long, out-of-state visitors.
According to a sports commission estimate, they'll create $2.5 million in economic impact.
"It's hotel-stay nights," said Alan Levin, head of the Delaware Department of Economic Development. "It's restaurants. It's stores that get the benefit from this. It's a ripple effect that goes through the entire community."
"We have people coming who don't have anybody involved in the tournament," Jerry Hayman, who helps with tournaments, said. "It just brings people out to watch. They buy. They eat."
"I think this will not only impact this region," Levin said. "But going out into the Eastern Shore, going north into Kent County. It's just a great opportunity."
The tournaments will also bringing national television exposure to southern Delaware. The multiple games will be broadcast on ESPN.
